Dan Chiras ha dedicato oltre 30 anni allo studio della sostenibilità e all'applicazione delle sue conoscenze sull'energia solare, l'edilizia naturale e l'edilizia ecologica nelle proprie residenze. Nell'ultimo decennio, ha condiviso le sue intuizioni pratiche attraverso scritti, conferenze e workshop. Il suo stile di vita è caratterizzato da un ritorno alle risorse naturali come il sole e il vento per soddisfare le esigenze della sua famiglia, smettendo di pagare le bollette elettriche nel 1996.
Action for a Sustainable Future
This book helps students make sense out of the complex issues of environmental science. It encourages students to explore underlying themes common to all environmental problems and to consider a whole new generation of creative, long- lasting solutions. Through numerous examples, it gives students a sense of the solutions to the complex mix of environmental challenges facing North America and the rest of the world community.
A Complete Guide to Healthy, Energy-Efficient, Environmental Homes
The Natural House is a tour of the construction, costs, and pros and cons of fourteen natural building methods. Straw Bale, Rammed Earth, Cob, Cordwood, Adobe, Earthbags, Papercrete, Earthships…whatever the method, the common goal is to create a house that is economical, energy efficient, nontoxic, soothing to the soul, kind to the environment, and pleasing to behold. This comprehensive sourcebook offers in-depth information that will guide your search for the perfect sustainable dream home. It is a must for home builders, contractors, and architects.Author Dan Chiras shows how you can gain energy independence and reduce your environmental impact through passive solar heating and cooling techniques, solar electricity, wind power, and micro-hydropower. He also explains safe, economical ways to obtain clean drinking water and treat wastewater, and discusses affordable green products.While he's an unabashed advocate of natural building techniques, Chiras takes care not to romanticize and to alert readers to avoidable pitfalls. His detailed, practical, and ecologically sound advice can save tens of thousands of dollars, whether you are buying, building, or renovating a natural home.